Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War ‘Second Battle of Bapaume’ D.C.M., ‘Second Battle of the Marne’ M.M. group of four awarded to Private R. Rothwell, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (29291 Pte. R. Rothwell. M.M. 2/R.W. Fus:); Military Medal, G.V.R. (29291 Pte. R. Rothwell. 2/R.W. Fus:); British War and Victory Medals (29291 Pte. R. Rothwell. R.W. Fus.) good very fine (4) £2,200-£2,600

D.C.M. London Gazette 5 December 1918:
‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an advance. He volunteered to accompany his officer forward under heavy machine-gun fire and look for the company commander, who was wounded and missing. When well in front of the attacking troops they were attacked by small parties of the enemy. Although shot through the arm, he assisted in re-loading rifles for his officer, thus enabling them both to beat off the enemy, and get back safely to troops in rear.’

M.M. London Gazette 21 October 1918.

Robert Rothwell was born in Radcliffe, Lancashire, in 1894 and attested for the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He served initially with the 19th Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front, before transferring to the 2nd Battalion, and was awarded the Military Medal in 1918, his award first being mention in the Battalion War Diary on 22 July 1918. Given this date, it is possible that he was awarded the M.M. for the raid on Hamel, during the Second Battle of the Marne, on 11 July 1918.

Rothwell was subsequently awarded the D.C.M. for his gallantry during an attack on Norval and Sailley-Sailleselthe during the Second Battle of Bapaume, 1-3 September 1918. The War the Infantry Knew gives the following account by his officer, Crabtree:
‘30 August 1918. Idly we listened to the buzzing of telephone wire overhead, and it dawned on me that the wire could not possibly be connected with the war on our side if the line. Without more ado, my batman, Rothwell, shinned up the pole and cut the wire down. Possibly an hour afterwards our reveries were disturbed by two German linesmen who came riding on bicycles, to find and repair the damage. They were promptly bowled over and sent to Battalion HQ.
1 September 1918: ‘I got perhaps 50 yards, when I crumpled up with a bullet through the leg which split the tendon. Rothwell, my faithful batman and runner, was close on my heels, and he and I were alone, about 40 yards in front of of the rest of the company. He bandaged me and, even amongst the bullets flying about, managed to envy my luck in getting such a perfect “blighty”.’

Rothwell needed to be ordered to return to the Company and Crabtree was taken prisoner. The 2nd Battalion casualties during this action were heaviest of all with 357 killed, wounded and missing. The survivors, 90 in number were then organised into a single company. Rothwell was himself wounded by a machine-gun bullet in the right arm.

Sold with a fine illuminated scroll presented to Private Rothwell by the Urban District Council of Radcliffe, Lancashire, dated 10 March 1919.